Archive for April, 2007
Throwing in the towel
April 26th, 2007 atwork
Leaving a job is akin to leaving a marriage. In an unhappy marriage, there would sometimes be raised voices, other times, a prolonged sulk. When everything is humming along and one breaks the news to leave, hundreds of bewildered voices would call – why? can I change your mind? I will change!
It is a business relationship wherein which I trade in money for my time and effort. Still, the guilt – perhaps the real currency of trade with any person – is overwhelming. Sorry is all I want to say for not doing enough for the staff, for my team, to the various Heads and GMs who were kind.
Ya, I am moody. Don’t think I can return the headsets without my nose becoming sore, much less face my team.
It’s all about love
April 23rd, 2007 Uncategorized
Why am I angry now? I was angry before but it’s the matter of the straw on the camel. I went to ST online today and saw a particularly offending news item. Like the last drink in the guts of the bank sales person, the spew gates opened. I am not angry about the pay rise in the civil service because the service supports the public and not the political party in power. I want to rant about the pay rise issue for ministers.
I think it is deeply insulting that no one even tries to fool us by having a semblance of independent committee to suggest a pay rise for ministers. I think it is embarrasing that the argument for the pay rise is a direct comparison between private sector CEOs and public sector leaders – how telling this frames the whole question!
Is there greater satisfaction with money than the pursuit of job satisfaction and pride in the public service? The litmus test is this: if this job had the half the pay, would you have done it? If not, I say, get out. Put in the oppositions and independents who has more love for this nation in their pinky finger than the whole lot put together. At that kind of minimum pay, I do not think any MP is suffering financial hardship. (Don’t forget most married MPs are in dual income families.)
Elsewhere
April 20th, 2007 Uncategorized
Even if it is not a date, it would be a great night out for singles if the idea is dressed up and served in hip, cool way because when you boil it to the essence, going to a debate or a lecture is bottom scrappingly low on the glam factor.
Elsewhere
April 18th, 2007 music
Example of Vonnegut’s advice to children – if you really want to hurt your parents, become a really famous violinist and play on a street corner. Story here. I was being glib – the story is heart breaking.
Kurt Vonnegut Dies?
April 12th, 2007 Obituaries
(Four letter expletive, anagram of fuck).
I’m upset.
On the manners of address
April 10th, 2007 atwork
Somehow Compliance Queen doesn’t sound as impressive as HRH Eileen the Idle of London by the Bow but that will do.
The Lives Of Others
April 9th, 2007 screen
I can never understand film lovers. How do they deal with the desire to leapt up and give the cast a standing ovation?
I love this film. It speaks directly and simply to the heart like a good piece of music. I love it paying tribute to art. I love how it is sentimental about humans to believe in the goodness and to acknowledge and accept human weaknesses.
A Poblem Engrish example
April 2nd, 2007 Uncategorized
Spotted in Toa Payoh near the library.
“Be Breast Aware [stuff about mammogram]
Early detection saves lives”
I was with my brother C., when we walked pass the sign. He was perturbed that I found the wrong grammer funny.
Why God Needs Satan
April 2nd, 2007 elsewhere
On Slate, here is an interesting take on Job.
But Satan is actually the kind of guy any smart God would want around, because he questions authority. He asks the tricky, contentious questions that make God more thoughtful about His own work.
10 Reasons Why I Want (nay, NEED) a blackberry
April 1st, 2007 Uncategorized
(If I have 10 reasons I will buy the set tomorrow)
1. Productivity purports to shoot up. I can now work 24 hours a day.
2. I simply have to have always on email – gives the impression of being at work when I’m not at work!
3. Social life purports to improve with greater communication
4. Maybe my phone bill will decrease – slight possibility. Co-workers like to phone me for discussions
5. I love gadgets and the idea of always on IM.
6. Useful when I’m commuting between 2 offices (10% of the time).
7. Can go on my break with peace of mind – ok, this is a lie.
This is actually quite difficult to complete. BB is an email/messaging pager. Of course it has the other PIM stuff, too. In the heart of hearts, all I really want is a palm that push mail and always on IM. (Please, not Treo.) While BB is not as beautiful as Samsung I600 (my knees fall weak) it makes me look like a nondescript office cog. Palm is fun, has reader programs and big fonts.
Update: I bought it. It’s like a little messaging pager. Between the 8800 and 8707: while the track ball is pretty attractive on the 8800, the lack of space on the keyboard will kill.
